CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1917, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

ORGANISING THE COUNTRY S;iys the Auckland Herald:—''Manifestly wo CRniiot continue to rend thousands 91" able-bodied men monthly to the front and at the <?amo time continue to use the remaining man-power of j'he country, as though there was no such drain. Very considerable numbers .vho are medically unfit for foreign service or outside the military age remain for necessary work. These numbers should be ample, hut many .ire engaged in occupations which, even during peace, have the appearance of national liabilities rather than of national assets. Some industries ;onld be suspended without any serious loss to the country, while the great primary industries should be carried on with even greater unrsy ihan usual." Here comes in the question of organisation (ays the | Manawatu Times). We think the Government might very well commandeer not only produce, but brains. It might usefully summon to its aid a body of capable business men to act as a board, with proper safeguards and with labor representation, to enforce the utilisation of the Dominion's man-power in the way best calculated to help win the war. The large kindred question oi financial organisation ought also to he handled boldly. W'isted effort ought to be stopped in all directions. The investment of capital in non-essential enterprises ought to be discouraged, and the employment of labor in rich direction? forbidden. By such a policy aa this, broadly a policy of national "-entice, which is the logical sequence o ( the Military Service Act, the sacrifices essential to victory could*lie made incrmously more equitable, 'while the Dominion's yi 1 in the war would be greatly ' u •«»£iß'»tied. >